Adjustable seat for an industrial vehicle

ABSTRACT

A lift truck is shown to exemplify the invention in which a seat support member is pivoted at one side to allow the seat to be swung outwardly of one side of the truck from a forwardly facing operative position for operating the vehicle to a rearwardly facing non-operative position relative to a compartment housing the power source apparatus, such as an electric storage battery. A protective overhead guard device includes one pivotable and longitudinally adjustable connector and one longitudinally adjustable connector for adjusting the length of the guard for connection to a longitudinally adjustable and novel counterweight structure at different adjusted positions thereof, thereby enabling the same truck chassis to be utilized for a relatively wide range of lift truck capacities. In addition, the pivoted connector is adapted to provide an opening in the guard structure through which may pass a chain or cable of a lifting and transfer device which, with the pivoted seat structure, provides simple means for performing an efficient method of removing and replacing the power source or other devices without removing or disassembling the overhead guard or seat structure.

United States'Patent [191 Cosby I ADJUSTABLE SEAT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL IVEHICLE [75] Inventor: Henry L. Cosby,-Hickory Corners,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Clark Equipment Company,

Buchanan, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,648

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 34,713, May 5,1970, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl. 296/65 R, 180/101 [51] Int. Cl B60n 1/02 [58] Field ofSearch 248/425; 297/94, 344, 349; 296/65 R, 66, 67, 68

1 Jan. 22, 1974 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan AssistantExaminerLawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agent, or Firml(enneth C. Witt etal.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A lift truck is shown to exemplify the invention inwhich a seat support member is pivoted at one side to allow the seat tobe swung outwardly of one side of the truck from a forwardly facingoperative position for operating the vehicle to a rearwardly facingnonoperative position relative to a compartment housing the power sourceapparatus, such as an electric storage battery. A protective overheadguard device includes one pivotable and longitudinally adjustableconnector and one longitudinally adjustable connector for adjusting thelength of the guard for connection to a longitudinally adjustable andnovel counterweight structure at different adjusted positions thereof,thereby enabling the same truck chassis to be utilized for a relativelywide range of lift truck capacities. In addition, the pivoted connectoris adapted to provide an opening in the guard structure through whichmay pass a chain or cable of a lifting and transfer device which, withthe pivoted seat structure, provides simple means-for performing anefficient method of removing and replacing the power source or otherdevices without removing or disassembling the overhead guard or seatstructure.

10 Claims. 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJANZZIEH SHEET 3 BF 6 FIG. 4

PATENTED 3.787. 086

sum u nr 5 PATENTEBJANZQIQH SHEU 5 BF 6 FIG. I I

ADJUSTABLE SEAT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE This application division ofour copending Pat. application Ser. No. 34,713 filed May 5, 1970,

,now U.S. Pat. No..3,687,484 issued Aug. 29, 1972, and

entitled Lift Turck." The entire disclosure of that appliation is herebyincorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which this inventionrelates includes adjustable seat construction for industrial vehi-' p abattery or internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred tofrequently as a battery for convenience only, and not by way oflimitation), is disposed in the rear portion of the truck. The operatorsseat is normally disposed above at least a portion of the compartmentwhich houses the battery or other power source so that when it isdesired to remove the battery, for example, by lifting it up and out ofthe truck chassis it is first necessary that the seat be moved to anoninterfering location, either by dismounting it from the truck orotherwise. In some lift truck designs the seat can be pivoted forwardlysufficiently to permit the battery to be lifted from the truck withoutinterference. In

other lift truck designs the position of the steering wheel in relationto the seat is such that the seat cannot be pivoted forwardly far enoughto permit the latter operation. In still other prior truck designsprovision is made for swinging the seat to one side of the truck andthen upwardly and forwardly so as to permit removal of the battery. Onesuch swingable seat construction is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,463,542,granted Aug. 26,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a substantialimprovement over known prior adjustable seat constructions which .can bemanipulatedto enable readily, for example, the removal from or depositin vehicles of the type to which the invention isfound suitable, such aslift trucks, of a power source or other device in a vehicularcompartment such as denoted above. It is therefore aprimary object ofthe inventionto provide an improved swing-out operators seatconstruction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF-THE DRAWING invention as applied to an electricpowered lift truck;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the driversstation of FIG. 1 wherein the operator's seat has been actuated to afull outwardly pivoted location relative to the station;

FIG. 3 shows in partial phantom view a broken-away side portion of theoperators station wherein the drivers seat is illustrated in bothoperative and swung-out positions in relation to the station and inrelation to a drive motor brake device; 4

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3 which shows the operators seat only inits normal operative position with the seat brake actuated to adisengaged position;

industrial FIG. I is a partial side view in elevation showing my FIG. 5is a partial rear elevational view of the truck as shown in FIG. 1; g

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the counterweight structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showingalso means associated therewith for adjusting the spacing of thecounterweight from the main truck chassis and for varying the mass ofthe counterweight;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial plan view of the connecting link structureassociated with one side of the overhead guard;

FIG. 9 is a partial rear quarter perspective view of the truck of FIG. Ishowing a cover hood of the battery compartment in a raised position anda side panel portion in exploded view in relation to the one side of thetruck for opening or exposing that side when the battery is to beremoved or installed; and

FIGS. 10 and II are partial side and rear perspective veiws,respectively, illustrating a method of removing from a lift truck powersource equipment, viz., an electric storage battery as illustrated.

'DESCRIFT'ION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,numeral 10 designates an electric counterbalance lift truck whichincludes a lifting mast assembly 12 (FIGS. 10 and II) mounted from thefront axle and of generally conventional design having a liftingcarriage and fork (not shown) mounted for vertical movement thereon,forward drive wheels 14, rear steer wheels 16, an operator and controlstation I8, and a battery compartment 20 formed generallywithin thebody, a main frame and adjustable counterweight 22 of the truck andbeneath an operators swing-out seat assembly generally designated at 24.An adjustable overhead guard assembly is illus- .trated generally atnumeral 26.

The battery compartment-20 is formed longitudinally between the forwardsurface of the counterweight assembly and a vertical transverselyextending front body plate member 28 secured at opposite ends tolongitudinal truck frame members 30, is formed laterally be tweenmanually demountable vertical longitudinally extending side platesmembers 32, and is formed vertically between a battery support floor andtruck frame member 34 which is secured at its longitudinal and forwardtransverse edge portions -to longitudinal and transverse truck framemembers. The top of the battery compartment is normally closed by a hoodplate 40 suitably hinged at 42 (FIGS. 9 and 10) to forward plate 28 forforward pivotal movement when seat assembly 24 is located in theswing-out position shown in FIG. 2

and other figures, as will be described in detail below, to provideaccess to the storage battery 44 which is in operation located in thecompartment and supported by floor portion 34. Suitable notches 156 areprovided at each upper corner portion in the forward face portion of thecounterweight and in plate 28 for receiving the ends of an upper turnedor hooked over edge portion 46 of each side plate 32 which, whenmounted, covers each open side portion of the battery compartmentbetween the counterweight and the forward transverse plate member 28.Formed longitudinally along the lower portion of each side plate 32 is are- "registers as af ie said in riotches 156. The side plateconstruction is duplicated on each side of the truck and during batteryremoval and installation both side plates 32 are removed.

The operators station 18 includes the usual lift truck controls such asa steer wheel 56, instrumentation panel 58, lift, lower and tiltcontrols for the mast assembly 12, accelerator and brake controls, and

forwardly raaieamasnrir cylinders 60', truEk mars;

control circuitry being housed in the compartment within cover 62immediately adjacent forward body plate 28, none of said trucks controlsor operating devices being of relevance insofar as the present inventionis concerned.

The pivotable swing-out operatoFs seat assembly 24 and in registry without-turned flanges of fixed tracks' 68 which are secured to the bodysupporting plate 64. Spring loaded hand-operated linkage means 72 ofknown construction is operable to release the seat structure for forwardand rearward sliding adjustment as movable track portions 66 areactuated along fixed track portions 68 for adjustment in the mannerindicated in FIG. 3 by the solid line and broken line showings of thebackrest portion of the seat.

Seat support plate 64 is of a generally U-shaped configuration, as bestshown in FIG. 5, having short cylindrical support buttons 74 adjacentthe outer ends of the legs of the plate for supporting the plate in aposition generally parallel to and spaced vertically from hood member 40when an operator is located on the seat, which is the position of theseat shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Plate 64 has a front leftcorner reinforcing and spacer plate portion 76, which comer portion ispivotally mounted by a pivot pin 78 from the left end portion of atransversely extending seat assembly mounting casting 80 which issupported for forwardpivotal movement about a pair of transverselyspaced horizontal pivot pins 82 from a normal operating position thereofas shown in FIG. 1 to a forwardly pivoted position thereof as best shownin FIG. 2. Mounting member 80 includes generally inverted U-shaped endbracket portions 84 having vertically spaced and inwardly extendingcorner plate portions 86 mounted from each said bracket portion 84 andaxially aligned openings 88 and 90 formed in'the respective spaced plateportions at both ends of seat mounting 80. Complementary openings 92 areformed in opposite front corner portions of plate 64, said pivot pin 78being mounted to extend through the respective openings 88, 90 and 92for swinging movement of the seat assembly to and from the left side ofthe truck, a locking pull-out pin and hand ring 96 being registrablewith right side openings 88, 90 and 92 when the seat plate 64 is innormal operating position in the space between upper and lower plateportion of right end bracket 84,.said pin 96 maintaining the seat insaid portion except, of course, when the pin is removed for pivotedswing-out operation of the seat as shown. Mounting member 80 includes aconnecting top plate member 98 between the end brackets 84 and a centraldownwardly extending projection 100 adapted to operate a safety brake onthe truck to engage the truck motor shaft for braking 5 whenever theoperator vacates the seat. The brake is disengaged when the operator islocated on the seat. the brake per se being of conventional design asgenerally shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The type of brake shown is generallydenoted as a dead man" brake. When the seat assembly is in the positionshown in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 for operation of the truck theweight of the operator pivots the seat assembly with mounting member 80about support pins 82 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3such that projection 100 abuts a lever 102 which is mounted from abracket 104 secured to forward body plate 28 in a U- shaped cutoutportion 106. A link 108 is pivotally connected to the opposite end oflever 102 for operating a conventional internal expanding shoe cam andlever actuated drum brake shown generally at 110 which is mounted fromthe chassis below the battery supporting floor 34 for braking the shaft112 of the truck electric drive motor 114. A main brake actuating lever116 is connected to link rod 108 and is actuated to apply the brake by atension spring 118 connected at its fixed end to a chassis mountedbracket 120 and at its movable end to the one end of lever 116. When theoperator is seated clockwise actuation of lever 116 (FIG. 4) releasesthe brake by extending spring 118, whereas when the operator departs thetruck brake spring 118 actuates the linkage assembly to disengage thebrake which spring action also effects forward pivotal movement of theentire seat assembly and mounting 80 therefore through link and lever108, 102 operating upwardly against projection 100, the spring 119having sufficient force to actuate lever 102 counterclockwise to pivotthe entire seat and mounting structure forwardly about pins 82. The seatis shown in such a forwardly pivoted position in broken lines in FIG. 1and also in FIGS. 2 and 5. The construction of brake assembly 110 per seis not a part of this invention, and is not therefore described indetail herein.

With the seat 62 swung-out on plate 64 to the approximate l80transversely displaced position best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, it isapparent that hood member 40 can be elevated as shown in FIGS. 9-11,thereby exposing the top side of battery compartment 20, and that eachside plate member 32 can be readily removed manually from the connectionthereof to forward plate 28, longitudinal chassis member 48, and thecounterweight notch 156, thereby exposing also the sides of thecompartment.

The counterweight construction shown in FIGS. 1 and -7 comprises a castor fabricated massof metal 130 supported from the rear end of the truckfor the well-known purpose of counterbalancing balancing loads supportedforwardly of the front drive axle for elevation on mast 12. Thecounterweight as shown is secured to the truck by seven studs 132mounted in various shaped cavities 134, 136 and 138 in the rear portionof the counterweight, which cavities permit recessing of the stud headsand access thereto for removal. A recess adapted to receive a tow barend is formed centrally of the counterweight and is associated withaxially aligned vertical openings 144 which extend downwardly fromrecess 138 for receiving a tow bar connector pin, not shown. Studs 132connect the counter- I weight to a downwardly extending apron 140 of thetruck frame having tapped openings formed therein which are adapted toalign axially with the corresponding openings 134, 136 and 138 of thecounterweight.

A generally rectangular shaped recess 150 is formed inside thecounterweight for receiving any selected one of a plurality ofsupplementary counterweight slabs, as may be required for differentcapacity trucks, which slabs are secured to the inner transverse surfaceportion of the recess by four studs such as 154. A recessed edge portion52 of the counterweight may be observed well in FIG. 5, notches 156 ateither side of the coun- .out the use of intermediate spacer memberssuch as illustrated in FIG. 7 at numerals 162 and 164. The broken linein the spacer in FIG. 7 represents the outer boundary surface orthickness of spacer 164, which is adapted to be used in conjunction withsupplementary counterweight 160. For example, a 6000 pound capacitytruck may be designed to utilize no supplementary counterweight and nospacer member, whereas a 7000 pound capacity truck may utilizesupplementary counterweight 160 and spacer member 164, and an 8000 poundcapacity truck may utilize the largest supplementary counterweight 152and the longest spacer member 162. The counterbalancing effect, ofcourse, is varied as required for each size of truck. It is understood,of course, that sets of varying length studs 132 and 154 will beutilized as required for the different thickness of supplementarycou'nterweights and spacer members. Also, cover or hood member 40 andside plates 32 will be available in various lengths when the truck isbeing assembled as appropriate for the variable length of compartment 20depending upon the particular capacity load for which the truck isdesigned.

The above exemplary variations enable a single basic truck chassis to beutilized for'varying load capacityrequirements simply by varying thecounterweight mass and effective counterbalancing moment arm about thefront axle, as described above. Also, it should be noted that thebattery compartment floor member 34 is located to rest on the spacermembers so that electric storage batteries, for example, of varying sizeand capacity can be installed depending upon the truck capacity desired.v

The overhead protective guard structure 26 comprises a pair of parallel,transversely spaced, generally inverter U-shaped side rail assemblies170. Each such side rail assembly has a forward rail portion 172 whichextends up and over the operator's station and is secured to therespective front side portion of the truck by a stud 174, and a rearrail portion 176 which extends up and over the rear portion of thetruck, being secured to the upper surface of the counterweight by abracket and bolt assembly 178 which connects the rear portions securelyto tapped openings 179 formed in the upper end of the counterweight.Forward leg portions 172 are secured together also by a horizontalprotective bar grid which terminates at the rear end of rail portions172. The right side longitudinally aligned pair of front and rear railportions 172 and 176 are adapted to be connected together by a link 182-which is pivotally secured at its rear end to rear rail 176 by a bolt184 and which is longitudinally adjustably connectible to thecorresponding front rail portion by a pull pin member 186. A pluralityof adjustment openings 188 are present in link 182, any one of which maybe selected to register with an opening 190 in the rear portion of therespective forward rail portion 172 depending upon the desiredadjustment range of the guard assembly 26. The rear portion of rightside rail 172 is formed to provide a longitudinally extending U-shapedrecess 192 for receiving link 182 in a selected adjusted positionlongitudinal of the truck. Details of the connecting link 182' andadjacent connected portions of the front and rear protective guard rails172 and 176 are best shown in the plan view of FIG. 8. It will be notedthat link 182 is pivotable upwardly only about pin 184i inasmuch as theslotted U-portion 192 provides a floor 193 providing structural rigidityand strength of the guard equivalent to standard overhead guardconstruction.

The left side rail portions 172 and 176are connected together by a link183 (FIG. (9) which may be of the same construction as link 182 exceptthat link 183 is not pivoted to left rail portion 176, but is securedthereto as by welding, the connection thereof to left rail portion 172being longitudinally adjustable by means of openings 188 and 190 and apull pin 186 the same as is link 182. A more rigid guard structure isthus provided than would be the case if, for example, pivoted links 182were used on both sides of the guard, although such structuremay,of.course, be found desirable in some cases with the provision ofadditional support to prevent sagging of the guard in the event bothsuch links were pivoted to provide simultaneously openings 196 on bothsides of the guard.

For each available longitudinally adjusted position of counterweight 22is a corresponding longitudinally adjustable position of the overheadguard 26 so that in any adjacent position of thecounterweight asdescribed above the connecting links 182 and 183 are adjusted such thatpins 186 and openings, 190 register with selected ones of openings 188wherebybracket and bolt portion 178 of each rail portion 176 isregistrable with the corresponding tapped opening 179 in thecounterweight.

Thus, in factory assembly'of the truck all necessary parts andadjustments are available to provide a completely enclosed power sourcecompartment for any one of a plurality of longitudinally adjustablepositions of the counterweight for various capacities of lift trucks. Inaddition, all of the foregoing described features combine to provide anextremely novel method and means for removing the power source, such asthe storage battery illustrated, without removing any of the parts ofthe truck except the readily demountable side plate members 32.

Illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 -in side and rear perspective views is alift truck whichembodies my invention wherein the various truck partsinvolved in removal .or installation of storage battery 44 areillustrated in operative positions to enable such removal or deposit.The overhead guard is shown conditioned to provide an opening 196between the right front and rear rail portions, right side pin 186having been removed from openings 188, 190 and the connecting link 182located in an upwardly pivoted position as shown. The seat assembly 24is located in its full outwardly extended position, as previouslydescribed, the hood 40 is raised as shown, and the side plates 32 areremoved. It will be noted that the overhead guard grid structure 180fully protects the operator from falling objects extending rearwardly asit does over the seat structure while providing an open rear portion ofthe guard such that with connecting link 182 pivoted to provide opening196, an overhead chain or cable fall means and hoist 208 or similarlifting equipment can be lowered between the side rails of the guardand/or actuated to pass through opening 196 transversely to the rightside of the truck.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 the battery is shown to include sideplate members having centrally located bracket portions 200 withopenings 202 adapted to receive a pair of adjustable hooks 204 of afixture assembly 206 which is supported from the overhead chain hoistassembly at 210. The operator, as shown, can under these conditionsreadily lower the fixture 206 below the upper level of the guard bymeans of the chain hoist and then actuate the fixture 206 over thebattery as the chain passes through opening 196, in which position theconnecting hooks 204 of the fixture may be connected to the batterybrackets 200 and the chain hoist operated to lift the battery fromsupporting floor 34 and thence move it transversely outwardly of thetruck as the chain fall is actuated through opening 196 and the batteryis then located for recharging or other maintenance. In a similar mannerand by the reverse procedure a fully charged battery can be very quicklyinstalled in the truck. The entire replacement of a power source, suchas a storage battery, or other device, can be accomplished within a veryshort time, which operation has previously required a substantial periodof time particularly in such trucks utilizing standard overhead guardequipment.

lt will now be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the artthat modifications may be made in the structure, form and relativearrangement of parts without necessarily departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, even though I have described and illustratedonly a single embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, it should beunderstood that I intend to cover by the appended claims all suchmodifications which fall within the scope of my invention.

1 claim:

1. An operator's seat assembly for vehicles comprising mounting meansconnected to and extending transversely of the vehicle, operators seatmeans supported from said mounting means, and pivot means adjacent oneend of said mounting means connecting said seat to said mounting means,said seat means being movable on said pivot means away from the oppositeend of said mounting means to enable said seat means to be actuated froma forwardly facing operative position for operating the vehicle to arearwardly facing non-operative position in which the seat meansextendstransversely outwardly of one side of the vehicle, said mounting meansand seat means being pivotable about a transverse axis and pivotingforwardly about said axis when said seat means is located in saidnon-operative position.

! 2. An operators seat assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidmounting means includes bifurcated end portions adapted to receive inthe spaces formed thereby a support portion of the seat means whichcomprises a member pivotable from the one bifurcated end to saidoperative and non-operative positions, said member being connectible tothe opposite bifurcated end by detachable connecting means A 3. Anoperators seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidseat assembly is mounted at the operators station of an industrial lifttruck and which in said operative position extends rearwardly over prinemover or energy source compartment means to the lift truck and which insaid nonoperative position is remote from said compartment means suchthat prime mover or energy source means therein may be removedvertically outwardly thereof without interference by said se at r naans.

4. An operators seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid pivot means is the sole pivot means enabling the seat means to beactuated from said operative position to said non-operative position. Iv V 5. An operators seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 4wherein the axis of said pivot means projects in a generally verticaldirection.

6. An operators seat'assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid seat means in said operative position is located generallyrearwardly of and in longitudinal alignment with said mounting means andwherein said seat means in said non-operative position is locatedgenerally forwardly and transversely of saiil m unt n mea 7. Anoperators seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidpivot means is the sole pivot means enabling the seat means to beactuated from said operative position to said non-operative position. f

K Xn bperaiofs seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 6 whereinsaid seat assembly is mounted at the operators station of an industriallift truck in which said operative position extends rearwardly overprime mover or energy source compartment means of the lift truck andwhich in said nonoperative position is remote from said compartmentmeans such that prime mover or energy source means therein may beremoved vertically outwardly thereof without interference by said seatmeans, said pivot means enabling the seat means to be actuated from saidoperative position to said non-operative position.

9. An operators asserribly for velii cles as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid seat means includes a seat, a carrier plate beneath the seat andtrack means mounting the seat on the carrier plate for forward andrearward adjustment of the seat on the'carrier plate.

10. An operators seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim 1wherein spring means is provided for pivoting said mounting means andseat means forwardly about said axis when said seat means is located insaid operative position, said spring means being ineffective for thatpurpose when said seat means is located in said non-operative position.

1. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles comprising mounting meansconnected to and extending transversely of the vehicle, operator''s seatmeans supported from said mounting means, and pivot means adjacent oneend of said mounting means connecting said seat to said mounting means,said seat means being movable on said pivot means away from the oppositeend of said mounting means to enable said seat means to be actuated froma forwardly facing operative position for operating the vehicle to arearwardly facing non-operative position in which the seat means extendstransversely outwardly of one side of the vehicle, said mounting meansand seat means being pivotable about a transverse axis and pivotingforwardly about said axis when said seat means is located in saidnon-operative position.
 2. An operator''s seat assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said mounting means includes bifurcated end portionsadapted to receive in the spaces formed thereby a support portion of theseat means which comprises a member pivotable from the one bifurcatedend to said operative and non-operative positions, said member beingconnectible to the opposite bifurcated end by detachable connectingmeans.
 3. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim1 wherein said seat assembly is mounted at the operator''s station of anindustrial lift truck and which in said operative position extendsrearwardly over prine mover or energy source compartment means to thelift truck and which in said non-operative position is remote from saidcompartment means such that prime mover or energy source means thereinmay be removed vertically outwardly thereof without interference by saidseat means.
 4. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said pivot means is the sole pivot means enabling theseat means to be actuated from said operative position to saidnon-operative position.
 5. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles asclaimed in claim 3 wherein the axis of said pivot means projects in agenerally vertical direction.
 6. An operator''s seat assembly forvehicles as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seat means in said operativeposition is located generally rearwardly of and in longitudinalalignment with said mounting means and wherein said seat means in saidnon-operative position is located generally forwardly and transverselyof said mounting means.
 7. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said pivot means is the sole pivot meansenabling the seat means to be actuated from said operative position tosaid non-operative position.
 8. An operator''s seat assembly forvehicles as claimed in claim 6 wherein said seat assembly is mounted atthe operator''s station of an industrial lift truck in which saidoperative position extends rearwardly over prime mover or energy sourcecompartment means of the lift truck and which in said non-operativeposition is remote from said compartment means such that prime mover orenergy source means therein may be removed vertically outwardly thereofwithout interference by said seat means, said pivot means enabling theseat means to be actuated from said operative position to saidnon-operative position.
 9. An operator''s assembly for vehicles asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said seat means includes a seat, a carrierplate beneath the seat and track means mounting the seat on the carrierplate for forward and rearward adjustment of the seat on the carrierplate.
 10. An operator''s seat assembly for vehicles as claimed in claim1 wherein spring means is provided for pivoting said mounting means andseat means forwardly about said axis when said seat means is located insaid operative position, said spring means being ineffective for thatpurpose when said seat means is located in said non-operative position.